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bsd Do you like suprises ? Some people don't. What about if you're told it will meet your greatest expectations.You still would rather know beforehand. Or maybe just maybe something deep down says-this time ....go for it!Have a good one;

It was so hot this shabbat in Jerusalem, almost a 100F!!! I felt like a chicken roasting in the oven...

Friday night:

Ella Valley, Merlot 2005: This was truly great! Dark garnet and full-bodied, a mature wine with jammy raspberries on the nose, these showing then also on the palate with blackberries, dark chocolate and well integrated tannins leading to a spicy and veeeeeeeery long, luscious, mouth-filling finish. YUMM! I'd drink any bottle left over the next 12 months to avoid wasting one of the very best Merlot.

Shabbat lunch:

- Tishbi, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2007: Still a very solid wine.- Teperberg, Silver Late Harvest Riesling 2010: Same here, very pleasant and refreshing when served well-chilled.- The BBB (Bartenura Blue Bottle Moscato) 2011: First time with the 2011. Almost as transparent as Sprite. Tasted like Sprite. Was it Sprite?! (Btw, I love Sprite! But why adding 5% alcohol?!).

Hoping (I know I will be disappointed) for a less hot week, all the best!

Enjoyed both immensely. The morellino, after 2 1/2 hours at the table, started to show "heat", sharp alcohol. I do not know if what I ate affected the taste buds, or that whatever supplies of the wine, one might have left over, should be consumed ASAP.

Friday evening: Abaya Le Rouge 2009 - a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Petit Verdot. Rogov had not tasted this vintage; the blend is different from 2008, with a significant share of Shiraz, but it remains deeply aromatic with soft tannins and abundant fruit. Very good! Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - needed time to open, reached its peak after two hours, but somewhat faded within an hour. At its peak was marvelous. Apparently, drink up.

Shabbat lunch: Black Tulip 2007 - an interesting wine, I'd score it at least at 90 (as opposed to Rogov's 88). I wonder how good was 2006 vintage that earned Rogov's 91.Saslov Adom Shiraz-Cabernet 2005 - a decent wine, but not very exciting.

2010 Segal's Fusion Red2007 Gilgal Cabernet -- A quick note about this one -- I forgot the history of how this brand came into development, but this bottle was brought over to me and I thought it was great for the price (apparently it only cost $7). Very reminiscent of Yarden Cab

Andrew Breskin wrote:2010 Segal's Fusion Red2007 Gilgal Cabernet -- A quick note about this one -- I forgot the history of how this brand came into development, but this bottle was brought over to me and I thought it was great for the price (apparently it only cost $7). Very reminiscent of Yarden Cab

Gilgal + GHW line formerly known as Gamla (and still sold in the rest of the world under that label). Where do you get it for $7???

Andrew Breskin wrote:2010 Segal's Fusion Red2007 Gilgal Cabernet -- A quick note about this one -- I forgot the history of how this brand came into development, but this bottle was brought over to me and I thought it was great for the price (apparently it only cost $7). Very reminiscent of Yarden Cab

Gilgal + GHW line formerly known as Gamla (and still sold in the rest of the world under that label). Where do you get it for $7???

Domaine Bunan Bandol Rose' 2011 - Its color of light peach with copper tones sets the table for the breezy elegance that follows. The nose is nicely perfumed with dominant notes of red grapefruit and jasmine, leading to a mouth of racy ripe strawberry, orange blossom and some cotton candy. While the wine is well made, it is on the ripe side, with luscious fruit but lacking focus and acidity. Luckily, it is completley dry. The alcohol level is rather high for a French Rose' at 13.5% AbV. This Provencial rose' is a traditional blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsault. I paid $30 at Schnapps. B/**

Galil Mountain Alon 2009 - The components of this blend are Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, Syrah 42%, Petit Verdot 9%, and Cabernet Franc 3%. The wine opens with a nice spiciness, standing in lieu of acidity, that is backed-up by red and black fruit. It doesn't shine on its own, though it pairs well with food. It has its place at the table as an every day, entry level wine. 15% AbV. I paid $20 at James Richardson, but after the discount it came out more on the order of $14. C+/**

Andrew Breskin wrote:2010 Segal's Fusion Red2007 Gilgal Cabernet -- A quick note about this one -- I forgot the history of how this brand came into development, but this bottle was brought over to me and I thought it was great for the price (apparently it only cost $7). Very reminiscent of Yarden Cab

Gilgal + GHW line formerly known as Gamla (and still sold in the rest of the world under that label). Where do you get it for $7???

I saw this post and said to myself, "What the heck is Gilgal?" I never heard of it! So I did my internet thing and came to the first URL in a Google search and that confused me further, as there was a TN by Victor Schoenfeld, the vintner at Golan Heights Winery. But further searching, brought me back to this forum and a concise clarification of the situation by our dear mentor, Daniel Rogov, z"l. I paste it here:

Gamla/Gamla/Gilgal – Let the Carnival Begin (K)

Postby Daniel Rogov » Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:35 pmA fair amount of time has been devoted in recent weeks to the question of the Gamla wines currently being produced by Royal Wines, the Gamla wines being produced by the Golan Heights Winery and The Gilgal wines also being produced by the Golan Heights Winery.

No politics and no speculations on my part this time – simply the reporting of facts and tasting notes.

Even though the wines in the Gamla series were produced by the Golan Heights Wines since their inception, the intellectual property (that is to say the "brand") in the USA has been under the ownership of The Royal Wine Corporation which is based in the United States and Royal imported and distributed those wines in the United States. For reasons best known to CEO's, economic advisors to those CEO's and perhaps psychologists, Royal decided to break from the Golan Heights Winery production and to produce their own wines under the Gamla brand. Simply stated, from now on those Gamla wines from the 2009 vintage and on appearing in the USA will have been produced by Royal in Israel for shipment to and distribution in the USA.

As to the Golan Heights Winery, the wines produced under the Gamla label will continue to appear under that label in Israel and in some thirty countries in which the winery distributes their wines. Not to lose out on sales, the winery has simply re-branded these wines for export to and sale in the USA and the new brand will be Gilgal, those bottles now appearing in the USA from the 2008 and 2007 vintages.

This was written last year and included his TN on the Gamla/Gigal wines at [url]http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=37855[/url]I especially like the part where he says,

"For reasons best known to CEO's, economic advisors to those CEO's and perhaps psychologists..."

At least here in Israel it is clear that Gilgal doesn't exist and Gamla is made by the Golan Heights Winery.

hi; as PinchasL i too had the Alon and reading his tasting notes helped me clarify in my mind what i had experienced;up to the point of classifying it as as entry level table wine.Granted it can be attributed to a lower level of sophistication in pallete appreciation yet i wonder if that classification could have been colored by a thread a few weeks ago where the galil mt wines were termed as entry level.Is the Alon in the different category than the yiron which often scored above 90 and will benfit from some more bottle age? also enjoyed a bottle of tabor shiraz 2009;now thats a wine thats a good bottle but definitely a table wine.

Harry J wrote:hi; as PinchasL i too had the Alon and reading his tasting notes helped me clarify in my mind what i had experienced;up to the point of classifying it as as entry level table wine.Granted it can be attributed to a lower level of sophistication in pallete appreciation yet i wonder if that classification could have been colored by a thread a few weeks ago where the galil mt wines were termed as entry level.Is the Alon in the different category than the yiron which often scored above 90 and will benfit from some more bottle age?

Hi Harry,

My classification of the wine as entry-level was indeed referencing that post by Chaim Shraga, consciously intended to concur with the opinion expressed therein.

Fri Night - Flechas Malbec 2009 - not as impressive as when I first had it, but the quality and variety of kosher wine has gotten better... Still, different enough to be worth a look as long as you can get it in the 20 buck rangeSat lunch - Affligem Tripel - truly truly great beer

gaston k wrote:Fri Night - Flechas Malbec 2009 - not as impressive as when I first had it, but the quality and variety of kosher wine has gotten better... Still, different enough to be worth a look as long as you can get it in the 20 buck rangeSat lunch - Affligem Tripel - truly truly great beer

This is the second time someone has said they did not like the 2009 Fleschas - is it going bad? That wine was close to unapproachable a few months ago!